Isothermal pocket bag for bottles and foodstuffs

ABSTRACT

This invention consists in a flexible, very light and pocket-size container, which can keep the temperature of a liquid inside a bottle ( 4 ) even. The bag ( 1 ) is made by folding a rectangular foil in two and then welding two sides, leaving only one side open through which the bottle ( 4 ) or the food is inserted. The foil is made up of thermal-insulation, reflective and waterproof materials. Two holes ( 2.1, 3.1 ) having the same dimensions as a bottle neck ( 4 ) are located near the open shorter side. An elastic band ( 8 ) closes the isothermal bag ( 1 ) after rolling it up or folding it up thus making it compact and pocket-size. The bag ( 1 ) wraps up the bottle ( 4 ) completely but the holes ( 2.1, 3.1 ) enable users to drink without opening and closing the bag ( 1 ). Its closing device is functional, hygienic and user-friendly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention concerns an isothermal bag keeping the temperatureof food and beverages inside even.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] People often feel like having cool food or drinks (e.g. water,tea, wine, soft drinks etc) within their reach especially when theweather is hot and no fridge is available, such as when they are on thebeach, on a tennis court or during long journeys.

[0003] Today there are several systems to keep food and drinks coolwithout using a fridge, as widely known. These systems includethermoses, portable coolers and thermos flasks, which may however havesome minor or major drawbacks for users. Thermoses are usuallycumbersome and carrying them causes inconvenience once the drink isfinished. Portable coolers (which are made cold by artificial ice) arecumbersome and heavy to carry. Thermos flasks are light but cumbersome,too. Therefore portable coolers and thermos flasks are only used whenusers carry both drinks and foodstuffs, thus accepting all theinconvenience related to their weight and dimensions. But people oftenwish to have just one cool drink or some food kept in a small box orbowl (e.g. yoghurt, ice-cream, a sandwich etc.) within their reach, inwhich case they do not carry anyone of the above-mentioned coolingsystems because of their inconveniences. Therefore, food and drinksbecome warm and unappetising after a short period of time, especially ifthey are under the sun.

[0004] Another solution consists in using specific bags for bottles,such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. Des 403,926 and 5,890,809.However, these containers do not cover the bottle completely and reduceheat insulation. U.S. Pat. Nos. Des 409,450 and N. 5,804,265 makereference to some other bags for bottles, which actually do coverbottles completely, but have no hole to drink directly from them.Indeed, users need to open and close the bag every time they want todrink, the which is uncomfortable and increases heat exchange betweenthe inside and the outside. U.S. Pat. No. Des 392,025 gives a rathereffective solution because the bag covers the bottle up to its neck,thus enabling users to open the stopper without opening the bag too.Unfortunately though, the bag is closed by a string and is thereforevulnerable to dust, sand and other unhygienic conditions implying highermanufacturing costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This invention aims at providing users with a new a newisothermal bag, which can keep food or drink temperature even and doesnot have the same inconvenience as the above-mentioned cooling systems.

[0006] These goals are achieved by this flexible, isothermal andpocket-size bag. It is made by folding a rectangular foil in two whichis then fixed by two sides joined by welding or any other method. Thefinal product is a bag with just one opening on the shorter side. Theopening is delimited by two flaps each of which has a hole that isapproximately the same size as a bottle neck. The holes are located nearthe edges of the open shorter side. The edges of each hole may beelasticised or reinforced by welding or rings made up of differentmaterials. The two holes are approximately coaxial.

[0007] The bag is approximately the same size as a bottle, so that thebag can perfectly wrap it up.

[0008] The foil is made up of three different layers of soft andflexible synthetic materials which are specifically used for foodstuffs.The external layer is reflective, the intermediate one hasthermal-insulation characteristics and the internal one is waterproofand/or reflective. The foil may also be made up of four layers, in whichcase the external layer is reflective, the two intermediate ones havethermal-insulation characteristics, whereas the internal one iswaterproof and/or reflective. It is also possible to use a foil with onesingle layer featuring thermal-insulation, waterproof and reflectivecharacteristics. The isothermal bag may have round corners and itsbottom may be folded.

[0009] An elastic band, a string or a ribbon may be fixed outside thebag, which may be rolled up or folded up before or after being used soas to become compact and pocket-size. The elastic band, the string orthe ribbon keep the bag rolled or folded and prevent it from spreadingout again.

[0010] An alternative solution is given by another hole on the closedshorter side, which is approximately the same size as a bottle neck,too. As an alternative, the bag may have just one hole on the closedshorter side. In this case, the edges of the shorter side can beprovided with a closing device such as a minigrip or a handle.

[0011] The bag can also be made by joining two rectangular foils, whichare fixed together along three sides, that is the two longer sides andthe shorter one. This isothermal bag has many of the advantages offeredby other cooling systems but does not have their drawbacks. Indeed, itis handy and very light, it may be used again, it is hard to break, easyto carry and user-friendly. It is a pocket-size bag and can therefore beput away very easily and with very little encumbrance.

[0012] Its weight is extremely low as the materials used are very light.However, although the materials are very light they are extremelyresistant, so resistant that the bag can be used several times. On theother hand, the bag is very cheap and users can throw it away afterusing it just one single time.

[0013] The holes on the bag may also be used as a handle so that userscan easily carry the bottle by holding it with one finger.

[0014] Unlike usual thermal bags, this one wraps up bottles completelythus increasing heat insulation. Its holes enable users to drinkstraight from the bottle without opening and closing the bag every timethey want to drink, thus reducing heat exchange between the inside andthe outside. Its closing device is easy, functional and hygienic at thesame time.

[0015] One of the main advantages of this bag lies in its hygieniccharacteristics. Indeed, it is made up of waterproof materials which arespecifically used for food and drinks. Condensation (which is producedwhen cold bottles get in contact with warm air) is pretty much reducedby this invention, so that the bag can avoid unhygienic mixing betweencondensation and the materials (such as sand, seaweed, red earth, dustetc.) located on the surface where the bottle is placed. This way, userscan avoid dirtying their hands or the container where the isothermal bagis placed, such as handbags, belt bags, rucksacks etc. Moreover, the bagcan easily be washed as it is made up of waterproof materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will beclarified in the description of some particular kind of embodiments ofthe above mentioned bag, which are preferable but not compulsory and aregiven for explanatory purposes only in the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0017]FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of the bag manufactured according to afirst embodiment;

[0018]FIG. 2 shows a frontal view of the bag when the first flap wrapsup the neck and the upper part of the bottle;

[0019]FIG. 3 shows a frontal view of the bag when both flaps wrap up theneck and the upper part of the bottle;

[0020]FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the bag when it is rolled up;

[0021]FIG. 5 shows a frontal view of the bag manufactured according to asecond embodiment;

[0022]FIG. 6 shows a frontal view of the bag manufactured according to athird embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0023] The isothermal bag 1 manufactured according to a first embodimentis made by folding a rectangular foil in two along the shorter side,which is then joined by welding the two longer sides. The final productis a bag with just one opening on the second shorter side. The openingis delimited by two flaps 2, 3. Each flap 2, 3 has a hole 2.1, 3.1 whosesize is approximately the same size as a bottle neck 4. The holes 2.1,3.1 are located near the edges 2.2, 3.2 of the open shorter side.

[0024] The dimensions of the bag 1 are approximately the same as thoseof the bottle 4.

[0025] The rectangular foil is made up of three different layers of softand flexible synthetic materials which are specifically used forfoodstuffs, such as PET. The external layer is reflective, theintermediate one has thermal-insulation characteristics and the internalone is waterproof and/or reflective.

[0026] If the temperature of a bottle of cold water 4 is to be kept evenas long as possible, even under the sun, the bottle is inserted into theisothermal bag 1. Thanks to its size, the bag 1 is like a case perfectlyand completely wrapping up the bottle 4.

[0027] The hole 2.1 of the first flap 2 has to coincide with the end ofthe bottle neck 4. The bottle neck is put inside the hole 2.1. Then theflap 2 is folded until it completely covers the upper part of the bottle4. Now, the hole 3.1 of the second flap 3 has to coincide with the endof the bottle neck 4. The bottle neck is put inside the second hole 3.1,too. Then the second flap 3 is folded until it completely covers thefirst flap 2. Consequently, the upper part of the bottle 4 is completelycovered by the bag 1 and it still is possible to drink from it withoutopening the flaps 2, 3 again as the bottle neck comes out of the twoholes 2.1, 3.1.

[0028] The two flaps 2, 3 cannot be lifted as the edges of the two holes2.1, 3.1 are stuck on the bottle neck 4.

[0029] The isothermal bag 1 manufactured according to a secondembodiment also has a closed shorter side with a hole 5, which isapproximately the same size as the bottle neck 4. In that case, thebottle 4 is to be inserted into the bag 1 and its neck is to passthrough the hole 5. The two holes 2.1, 3.1 serve as handles to carry thebag 1 and the bottle 4 inside it.

[0030] The isothermal bag 1 manufactured according to a third embodimentdoes not have any holes 2.1, 3.1 on its open shorter side, whereas theclosed shorter side has the above-mentioned hole 5. In that case, theopen shorter side is provided with a closing device such as a minigrip 6and a handle 7 to carry the bag 1 and the bottle 4 inside it.

[0031] The bag 1 is made up of very light materials so that users do notfeel its weight while carrying the bottle 4. However, thecharacteristics of its materials allow to keep the temperature of theliquid inside the bottle 4 even in extremely hygienic conditions.

[0032] Once the bag 1 has been used, it can be rolled up so that itbecomes compact and pocket-size. The string 8 prevents the bag 1 fromspreading out again.

1- Isothermal pocket bag for bottles and foodstuffs having approximatelythe same size as a bottle (4); the bag (1) is made up of a soft andflexible rectangular foil with one or more layers of synthetic materialswhich are specifically used for foodstuffs; these materials can keep thetemperature inside the bag (1) quite even as they havethermal-insulation, reflective and waterproof characteristics; said bag(1) is made by folding the above-mentioned rectangular foil in two,which is then fixed by two sides joined by welding or any other method;the final product is a bag with just one opening on the shorter side;said opening is delimited by two flaps (2, 3), each of which (2, 3) hasa hole (2.1, 3.1) that is approximately the same size as a bottle neck(4); the holes (2.1, 3.1) are located near the edges (2.2, 3.2) of theopen shorter side; these holes (2.1, 3.1) are approximately coaxial andthe bottle neck (4) goes trough them when the bag (1) is used; the edgesof each hole (2.1, 3.1) may be elasticised or reinforced by welding orrings made up of different materials; an elastic band (8), a string or aribbon may be fixed outside the isothermal bag (1) to close it afterrolling it up or folding it up. 2- Isothermal pocket bag, according toclaim 1, characterised by the composition of the flexible foil, which ismade up of three layers of different materials; the external layer isreflective, the intermediate one has thermal-insulation characteristicsand the internal one is waterproof and/or reflective. 3- Isothermalpocket bag, according to claim 1, characterised by the composition ofthe flexible foil, which is made up of four layers; the external layeris reflective, the two intermediate ones have thermal-insulationcharacteristics, whereas the internal one is waterproof and/orreflective 4- Isothermal pocket bag, according to claim 1, characterisedby the composition of the flexible foil, which is made up of one singlelayer with thermal-insulation, reflective and waterproofcharacteristics. 5- Isothermal pocket bag, according to claim 1,characterised by the fact that the elastic band (8), the string or theribbon are not fixed onto the bag (1). 6- Isothermal pocket bag,according to claim 1, characterised by a hole (5) having the same sizeas a bottle neck (4), located on the closed shorter side, with two holes(2.1, 3.1) near the edges (2.2, 3.2) of the open shorter side. 7-Isothermal pocket bag, according to claim 1, characterised by one singlehole (5) located on the closed shorter side and whose dimensions areapproximately the same as a bottle neck (4). 8- Isothermal pocket bag,according to claims 1 and 7, characterised by an opening on the shorterside provided with a closing device such as a minigrip (6) and a handle(7). 9- Isothermal pocket bag, according to claim 1, characterised byround corners and whose bottom may be folded. 10- Isothermal pocket bag,according to claim 1, which is made by joining two rectangular foils,which are fixed together along three sides, that is the two longer sidesand the shorter one.